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Telegram Desktop vs Messenger: catalog facts
Telegram Desktop	Messenger
Freemium Free to use. Telegram Premium is an optional subscription for larger uploads, faster…	Free Free to use with a Meta account.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Web
Official client with published source and build instructions Cloud chats sync instantly across every device you sign in on	Reaches people who already use Facebook Messaging and video calls in one place
Ordinary chats are not end-to-end encrypted and Telegram holds the keys Secret chats are not available in the desktop client	Requires a Meta account Closed source and run by an advertising company
Downloadable app	Web application
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL-3.0	License not stated
Account needed	Account needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.